Transportation system

ABSTRACT

The disclosure is of a transportation system which includes an elongated rail support which carries three parallel spaced-apart rails which serve as running surfaces. Two of the rails have running surfaces to accommodate guide wheels and the third rail has a running surface to accommodate guide wheels and the third rail has a running surface to accommodate a main drive wheel of a powered rack member having wheels which move along the rails and which can carry various payloads. A switch section is provided for selectively directing rack members over a main route or for moving them onto an alternative route.

United States Patent 1 1 Stafford et al.

[ June 18, 1974 TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM [22] Filed: July 21, 1971 [21]Appl. No.: 164,954

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 746,884, July 23,1968, Pat. No.

104/104, 118, 119,121, 130, 131; 105/141, 144, 146, l47;214/l6.1 ED

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,431,536 10/1922 Maloney104/119 1,801,141

4/1931 Connors .1 104/121 2,061,420 11/1936 Francisco 2l4/l6.1 ED2,903,972 9/1959 Schutze 104/103 3,194,179 7/1965 Scherer 105/1473,252,428 5/1966 Steinkamp 104/130 Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr.Assistant Examiner-D. W. Keen Attorney, Agent, or FirmEdward J. Keeling[5 7] ABSTRACT The disclosure is of a transportation system whichincludes an elongated rail support which carries three parallelspaced-apart rails which serve as running surfaces. Two of the railshave running surfaces to accommodate guide wheels and the third rail hasa running surface to accommodate guide wheels and the third rail has arunning surface to accommodate a main drive wheel of a powered rackmember having wheels which move along the rails and which can carryvarious payloads. A switch section is provided for selectively directingrack members over a main route or for moving them onto an alternativeroute.

6 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures mmmim 3.817.184

SHEEI 10F 3 36 'FIG. 1

INVENTORS' NEIL S. STAFFORD JUSTIN M. JACOBS, JR.

ATTO RN EY PATENTEDJun 18 m4 SHEEI 2 0F 3 INVENTORS NEIL S.STAFF JUSTINM. JACOBS, JR.

PATENTEDM 18 m4 11817; 184 sum 3 or 3 V FM \Mx o o 2 A 3 x s m v 3 W O vS r \3 v s 2 3 L INVENTORJ' NEIL S. STAFFORD JUSTIN M. JAOOBSMR.

PM M ATTORNEY 1 TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM This application is a division ofthe Neil S. Stafford et al. application Ser. No. 746,884, filed July 23,1968, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,606,839, for Transportation Systern.

This invention relates to a transportation system which includes anelongated rail support means having three parallel rails connectedthereon for carrying a powered rack member, which rack member has wheelswhich move on the running surfaces of the rails and which can carryvarious payloads and, more specifically, this invention relates to anelongated rail support means having parallel spaced apart railsincluding an upper guide rail, a lower guide rail and a power railbetween the said guide rails. The rails have running surfaces toaccommodate wheels of a mobile rack member. The running surfaces of theupper and lower guide rails are substantially vertical and are disposed180 apart. The powered rail is substantially horizontal and ispositioned between the guide rails.

As the congestion of cities increases, it becomes more and moredifficult to transport people and goods between outlying locations andthe central city. New and unique systems of transportation must befound. As a corollary to the congestion of the cities, right of wayspace is also more difficult to obtain. Thus, there is need for a newtransportation system that is able to accommodate a maximum of traffic,utilizing a minimum of right of way space. There is also need for atransportation system that is versatile and is capable of carrying amultitude of payloads. In addition to this, there is need for atransportation system which features small units which are independentlypowered and which may be moved as individual units or which may beconnected together and moved as a series of units.

Many attempts have been made to develop a system which will fill theneeds set out above. For example, many monorail systems have beendiscussed and developed. Additionally, many attempts have been made tomodify existing systems to provide a versatile transportation system.However, there is still need for a transportation system which willprovide high speed travel along a central right of way requiring aminimum of space and which will give versatility in load-carrying and inthe make-up of the units traveling on the right of way.

In the broad aspect, the present invention is directed to atransportation system including an elongated rail support means on whichthree parallel rails are connected. The rails include an upper guiderail, a lower guide rail and a drive rail. A rack member having wheelsis provided for moving on said rails. The rack member has load carrymeans on one side and the wheels on the other. The wheels of the rackmember include an upper guide wheel for running on the upper guide rail,a lower guide wheel for running on the lower guide rail and a drivewheel for running on the drive rail. The drive wheel is powered andmoves the rack member along the rails.

In a more specific aspect the invention comprises an elongated railsupport means having three parallel rails. The rails include an upperguide rail and a lower guide rail. The upper and lower guide rails havevertical running surfaces. These running surfaces are arranged onopposite sides of a vertical plane passing between the rails. Therunning surface of the upper guide rail is dis posed away from a rackmember which is adapted to run on the rails while the running surface ofthe lower guide rail is disposed toward the rack. A power rail isprovided with a horizontal upward facing running surface. The power railis positioned between the upper and lower guide rails. A rack memberhaving wheels for cooperation with said rails is provided with means forcarrying loads. The wheels of the rack member include an upper guidewheel having a vertical axis of rotation and arranged to rotate on therunning surface of the upper guide rail, a lower guide wheel having avertical axis of rotation and arranged to run on the running surface ofthe lower guide rail and a main drive wheel having a horizontal axis ofrotation and arranged to run on the running surface of the drive rail.Power means are provided on the rack for driving the main drive wheel.

In still another aspect the present invention comprises switch means fora transportation system including a first section of an elongate-d railsupport means and a second section of an elongated rail support meanshorizontally spaced apart from said first section. At least threeparallel rails are connected on each of said rail support means. A thirdelongated rail support means is spaced apart from said first and secondsections and said third support means also has three parallel rails. Aswitch section support means is movably mounted between said firstsection and said second section and is extendible between said firstsection and said third support means. The switch section has railscoacting with the spaced apart rails of said first and said secondsections and also with rails of said first section and the spaced apartrails of said third support means. Means are provided for selectivelymoving said switch section to selectively align said switch railsbetween the rails of said first and said second sections and between therails of said first section and said third support means.

It is a particular object of the present invention to provide atransportation system for carrying people and freight over a minimumright of way and which includes an elongated rail supporting guidewaymeans having three spaced apart parallel rails for carrying a variety ofpayloads on a self powered rack at high speeds. Further objects andadvantages of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing detailed description read in light of the accompanyingdrawings which are made a part of this specification and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the preferred form of apparatus assembledin accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the preferred form of apparatus assembledin accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an end view partially in section of the preferred form ofapparatus of the invention and shows details of the elongated railsupport means and the rails and rack member connected thereto;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view and illustrates the details of a rackmember;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the rack member;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the rack member;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of a switch means assembled in accordancewith the present invention in through position; and

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of the switch means assembled in accordancewith the present invention in switch position.

Refer now to the drawings and FIGS. 1 and 2 in particular where thepreferred embodiment of apparatus assembled in accordance with presentinvention is shown. FIG. 1 is a side elevation and FIG. 2 is an endelevation partially in section of a rack member which is generallyindicated by the number 20. The rack member 20 is attached to and inrunning position on an elongated rail support means which is generallyindicated by the number 30. The elongated rail support means 30 extendsbetween stations in a transportation system and serves to carry therails on which the rack member 20 moves. The rack member 20 includes aframe member 22 having a series of spaced apart wheels 32, 36, and 38rotatably attached thereto. The wheels 32, 36 and 38 are arranged invertical sets each comprising three wheels and are positioned on theframe 22 at suitable intervals depending on the load and length of theframe 22. The wheels of a set are made up of an upper guide wheel 32, alower guide wheel 36 and a main drive wheel 38.

The elongated rail support 30 is held in a desired position, such as forexample, by a series of columns, such as column 44, spaced apart on theright of way. it is obvious that the support means may carry rails onboth sides, thus, doubling the capacity of a given right of way. Therail support means 30 carries at least three parallel spaced apartrails. These rails include an upper guide rail 34, a lower guide rail 40and a main drive rail 42. The guide rails 34 and 40 have verticalrunning surfaces to accommodate the horizontal guide wheels 32 and 36 ofthe rack member 20. The running surface of the upper guide rail 34 facesaway from the rack 20 while the running surface of the lower guide rail40 faces the rack. The guide wheels 32 and 36 run on vertically disposedrunning surfaces of the respective guide rails. A horizontal main driverail 42 on the rail support means provides a running surface for drivewheel 38. The main drive rail 42 is above and adjacent to the lowerguide rail 40. Power is supplied to the drive wheel 38 by a suitablepower source and power train represented schematically by the numeral46. Thus, power may be supplied by electric, internal combustion orother suitable means. A suitable drive train transmits this power to thedrive wheel 38 to cause the drive wheel to rotate and to thus move therack member along theelongated rail support means. As indicatedschematically in FIG. 1, it is preferred that each set of wheels whichincludes a drive wheel 38 is provided with a power source. Thus, therear wheels of rack member 20 are provided with a power source asindicated by 48. Control means 50 control the power source 46 and 48 andthe movement of rack member 20 along support means 30. The control means50 is preferably electrically activated and may be tied in to a computernetwork so that a computer may control a number of rack members movingalong common elongated support means, such as support means 30.

FIG. 3 is an end view, partially in section, and shows in more detailthe elongated support means 30 and the rack member 20 carried thereon.The rack member 20 includes a frame 22 having suitable arms forrotatably mounting wheels 32, 36 and 38. The rack member 20 may carryfreight or passengers. In addition, the rack member 20 may serve as acarrier for cars or buses.

Further, vehicles such as buses may be provided with suitably arrangedwheels, such as wheels 32, 36 and 38, for running on the runningsurfaces of the rails of the support means. Thus, for example, a bus isequipped with convention wheels and a drive train for on street drivingand with suitable guide and drive wheels 32, 36 and 38 for travel on theelongated support means with the conventional power source being usedthrough ap propriate linkage to drive the drive wheel.

The wheels of the rack member 20 include an upper guide wheel 32, alower guide wheel 36 and a drive wheel 38. The upper guide wheel 32 andthe lower guide wheel 36 rotate in horizontal planes about verticalaxis. The main drive wheel 38 rotates in a vertical plane around ahorizontal axis. The guide wheels 32 and 36 are arranged to roll onvertical running surfaces disposed 180 apart. Thus, the guide wheelsrotate in opposite directions. The upper guide wheels 32 is arranged toroll on a running surface which faces away from the rack member 20. Thelower guide wheel is positioned to roll on a running surface which facesthe rack member. The drive wheel 38 rotates about a horizontal axis androlls on a horizontal surface.

An elongated support guidebeam means 30 is used to carry parallel rails34, 40 and 42 which serve as running surfaces for the wheels 32, 40 and42 of the rack member 20. The support means 30 is formed of a suitablematerial such as cement. It is obvious that the support means 30 can beformed of other suitable material. The support means 30 carries an upperguide rail 34. The rail 34 is connected to the support means by suitablemeans such as support member which is attached by bolts to the supportmeans 30. The upper guide rail 34 is arranged with a vertical runningsurface which faces away from the rack member 20. Thus, an overhangingarm 62 is used to position the upper guide wheel 32 in operatingposition on the upper guide rail 34. The elongated support means 30 isprovided with a suitable channel for the upper guide rail 34 and theupper guide wheel 32.

The lower portion of the support means 30 is provided with a lower guiderail 40 and a drive rail 42. The lower guide rail 40 is positioned so asto have a vertical running surface facing the rack member 20. Thus, theupper and lower guide wheels 32 and 36 roll on vertical running surfaceswhich are disposed apart. The lower guide rail 40 is fixed to thesupport means 30 by suitable means such as angle support member 66 whichis attached to the support means 30 by suitable bolts. In the preferredembodiment angle support member 66 also carries the drive rail 42. Thedrive rail 42 is located in a channel in support means 30. The driverail 42 has a horizontal running surface and is located between theupper and the lower guide rails 32 and 36. The drive wheel thus rotatesabout a horizontal axis and rolls on rail 42 to move rack member 20along the support means 30.

The lower channel in the elongated support means 30 also serves to houseelectrical power rail means 69 and 70. These rails are attached to thesupport means 30 by brackets 72 and extend in parallel relationship withthe other rails 34, 40 and 40. The lower channel may also be providedwith a water stop groove 74 and water drain holes such as hole 76.

While it is noted that the drive wheels and guide wheels and the driverail and guide rails have been referred to as being horizontal orvertical, it is also clear that it may be desirable to bank theelongated support means through turns so as to better accommodate therack member at high speeds. Such banking would move the respective railsslightly out of a horizontal or vertical position. It is clear, however,that this arrangement would result in the rails being substantiallyhorizontal or vertical. The degree of banking, the radius of curvatureof the support means and other design factors will, of course, varysomewhat depending on the terrain, de sired speed, etc. It is notedthathandling these factors is well within the skill of the art. FIGS. 4,5 and 6 show a rack member assembled in accordance with the invention ingreater detail. F 16. 4!- is a side elevation view, FIG. 5 is an endelevation view and FIG. 6 is a top view. The rack member 20 has upperguide wheels 32 and lower guide wheels 36. Drive wheels 38 are used tomove the rack member 30 along the rails. The rack member 30 includes aframe 22 which has arm members 62 which extend over the upper guide railto position guide wheel 32 on the back side of the rail. Power pickupmeans 13 and are arranged to pick up power from the power rails on thesupport means to provide power for driving the drive wheels 38. The maindrive wheel 38 is driven through power arm 39 by means of appropriatemechanical or electrical drive means such as power means 73. Suitabledrive linkage connects the power source with the drive wheel 38. Thepower wheel is preferably arranged for rotation on a horizontal surfaceimmediately above the adjacent lower guide wheel 32. The drive wheel iscontrolled by electrical control means 71 carried on the frame 22 whichcontrols the power means 73. The power means 73 may include, forexample, an electric motor, a reducer, a clutch and a brake. Thearrangement of these elements is well known in the art and will not bedescribed in detail herein. The control means 71 has means forcontrolling the power means and includes suitable electrical controls,switch gear controllers, relays and circuits. An output shaft extendsfrom the power means to provide thrust for the drive wheel.

Arranged on the load-carrying side of the rack member are a series ofload hook means, generally indicated by the number 81. These load hookmeans are used to releasably carry loads. Suitable bumpers 98 are usedto protect the lower part of the frame 22. The load hook means 81includes a load hook 82 which is pivotably mounted on shaft 83. The loadhook is controlled and pivoted by suitable linkage 84 and 85. Thislinkage is controlled by means of a control means 71 and by contactrollers 99. Thus, when a load is moved against the rack member 20 theload hook means are activated to secure the load to the rack by engagingsuitable rings on the load. The load may be released by actuating theload hook 82 through the control means 71. A switch operating arm 86pivotally mounted on shaft 87 is also provided for use in actuating book82 by means of switch 88.

Switch means for diverting a rack member to an alternate route areillustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 7 is a side elevation of switch meansassembled in accordance with the present invention wherein the switchmeans is arranged to permit straight-through travel. FIG. 8 is a sideelevation of the switch means of the present invention in switchposition to permit switching to an alternate route.

In accordance with the invention a switch means is provided forswitching rack members from a through route 30-30 to an alternativeroute 30-130. A switch section 131 is moveably mounted respectivelybetween a first section of an elongated rail support means 30 and asecond section of elongated rail support means 30 and said first sectionof elongated rail support means 30 and a third elongated rail supportmeans 130. Each of the support means has parallel spaced apart rails forsupporting a rack member in accordance with the invention. The switchsection 131 has parallel spaced apart rails mateable selectively betweenthe rails of the first and second sections and the rails of the firstand third sections. Means are provided for moving said switch sectionbetween said first and second sections and said first and third sectionsto accomplish switching of the racks.

Thus, a first section and a second section of a rail support means 30are shown respectively to the left and the right of a switch section131. A third rail support means vertically spaced above the first andsecond rail support means is indicated by the number 130. A switchsection is generally indicated by the number 131. The elongated railsupport means 30 carries an upper guide rail 34, a lower guide: rail anda drive rail 42. The upper rail support means also carries an upperguide rail 1341, a lower guide rail and a drive rail 142.. The switchsection of the rail support means 131 has an upper switch rail 234 and alower switch rail 240 as well as a lower drive rail 242. The switchsection 131 also has an upper through nail 334. The switch member 130 ispivotably mounted by means of pivot bearing 90.

A portion 92 of the lower guide rail 40 and lower drive rail 42 near therear end 97 of switch member 131 is pivotably connected at pivot91. Thisportion 92 of the rails 40 and 42 is normally held. in extendedoperating position by spring member 93. A stop shoulder 94 coacts withrail 40 to hold the pivoted rail section 92 in operating position. Thus,when a rack member proceeds along the through rails it crosses theswitch section in a horizontal manner.

As shown in FllG. 8, a hydraulic switch actuating arm 95 is arranged topivot the switch section 131 on pivot bearing 90. This causes the rear97 portion of the switch member 131 to depress the pivoted section 92 ofthe lower through-rail 40 and 42 and aligns the lower guide rail 240 andlower drive rail 242 with main line guide rail 40 and main line driverail 42 to the left of the switch section 131. The upper guide rail 234of the switch section 131 is now aligned between upper guide rail 34 ofthe rail support means 30 and the upper rail support means 130. Theright ends of the lower guide rail 240 and the drive rail of the switchsection 131 are aligned with the lower guide rail 140 and drive rail 142of the upper rail support means 130. The through upper guide rail 334 ofthe switch section has been rotated out of alignment between the railsupport means 30-30. Thus, a rack member coming along the rails of therail support means 30 is transferred by the switch- 0H section to theupper support means 130. It is evident that the switch actuating means95 may be retracted to pivot the switch member 131 back to a throughposition.

Although only specific embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed in detail, the invention is not to be limited to only theseembodiments but rather is meant to include all those embodiments whichcome within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A guidebeam switch means for a transportation system comprising afirst section of a support guidebeam, a second section of a supportguidebeam, a third section of a support guidebeam vertically spacedabove from said first section and said second section, each of saidsections having an upper vertical running surface which faces away froma vehicle operably positioned on said sections, each of said sectionshaving a lower vertical running surface.

2. The guidebeam switch means of claim 1 further characterized in thatsaid switch section is pivotally mounted between said first section andsaid second and third sections.

3. The guidebeam switch means of claim 1 further characterized in thatsaid switch section is pivotally mounted between said first section andsaid second and third sections.

4. A guidebeam switch means for a transportation system comprising afirst section of a support guidebeam; a second section of a supportguidebeam spaced apart from said first section; a third section of asupport guidebeam vertically spaced above from said first section andsaid second section; each of said sections having an upper verticalrunning surface which faces away from a vehicle operably positioned onsaid sections, each of said sections having a lower vertical runningsurface which faces toward a vehicle operably positioned on saidsections and each of said sections having a horizontal running surface;a switch section; means movably mounting said switch section between atleast a first position and a second position; a first set of runningsurfaces on said switch section mateable with the running surfaces ofsaid first section of said support guidebeam and the running surfaces ofsaid second section of said support guidebeam when said switch sectionis in said first position; a second set of running surfaces on saidswitch section mateable with the running surfaces of said first sectionof said support guidebeam and the running surfaces of said third sectionof said support guidebeam when said switch section is in said secondposition and means for moving said switch section between said firstposition and said second position.

5. The guidebeam switch means of claim 4 further characterized in thatsaid switch section is pivotally mounted between said first section andsaid second and third sections.

6. The guidebeam switch means of claim 4 further characterized in thatsaid switch section is pivotally mounted between said first section andsaid second and third sections.

1. A guidebeam switch means for a transportation system comprising afirst section of a support guidebeam, a second section of a supportguidebeam, a third section of a support guidebeam vertically spacedabove from said first section and said second section, each of saidsections having an upper vertical running surface which faces away froma vehicle operably positioned on said sections, each of said sectionshaving a lower vertical running surface.
 2. The guidebeam switch meansof claim 1 further characterized in that said switch section ispivotally mounted between said first section and said second and thirdsections.
 3. The guidebeam switch means of claim 1 further characterizedin that said switch section is pivotally mounted between said firstsection and said second and third sections.
 4. A guidebeam switch meansfor a transportation system comprising a first section of a supportguidebeam; a second section of a support guidebeam spaced apart fromsaid first section; a third section of a support guidebeam verticallyspaced above from said first section and said second section; each ofsaid sections having an upper vertical running surface which faces awayfrom a vehicle operably positioned on said sections, each of saidsections having a lower vertical running surface which faces toward avehicle operably positioned on said sections and each of said sectionshaving a horizontal running surface; a switch section; means movablymounting said switch section between at least a first position and asecond position; a first set of running surfaces on said switch sectionmateable with the running surfaces of said first section of said supportguidebeam and the running surfaces of said second section of saidsupport guidebeam when said switch section is in said first position; asecond set of running surfaces on said switch section mateabLe with therunning surfaces of said first section of said support guidebeam and therunning surfaces of said third section of said support guidebeam whensaid switch section is in said second position and means for moving saidswitch section between said first position and said second position. 5.The guidebeam switch means of claim 4 further characterized in that saidswitch section is pivotally mounted between said first section and saidsecond and third sections.
 6. The guidebeam switch means of claim 4further characterized in that said switch section is pivotally mountedbetween said first section and said second and third sections.